Aa
Macular Hole Repair
My wife has been diagnosedwith a stage 3 macular hloe in her right retina. She is 68 years old. Her opthomalogist (retina specialist) has advised that she should have retinal surgery which involves removing the vitreous, scraping around the macular hole area (which looks like a volcano) and then filling the eye with either a gas or a silicon oil. He recommended the oil over the gas bacause of the necessity to remain face down for a 2 week period to keep the gas bubble in place. He did say that the gas bubble has a slightly higher success rate (80%) versus 70% for the silicon oil method.
Questions:
1. Is your recommendation to use gas or oil?
2. Are there other repair methods that might be used? (eg. laser photocoagulation or cryopexy)
3. What are the chances of vision improvement if my wife does not have a retina repair procedure?
Many thanks
Roger
Questions:
1. Is your recommendation to use gas or oil?
2. Are there other repair methods that might be used? (eg. laser photocoagulation or cryopexy)
3. What are the chances of vision improvement if my wife does not have a retina repair procedure?
Many thanks
Roger
1. I would say if she's otherwise healthy using an intraocular gas would be preferable to oil. However, positioning is really important to the success of the macular hole repair, so if she is unable to maintain this strict positioning requirement, go with the oil. Note that with the oil, a second surgery will be necessary to remove the oil.
2. No there are no other methods to repair a hole. Using laser or cryotherapy is not done because these procedures create scar tissue thus they would damage the macula even more.
3. With a stage three hole, the chances for improvement are very very slim, and surgery is almost always recommended. Without repair the odds are more likely that there will be further macular damage. Surgery, may not give her "normal" vision, but the goal of surgery is to try and preserve vision, and it may offer a line or two of improvement on reading the eye chart.
2. No there are no other methods to repair a hole. Using laser or cryotherapy is not done because these procedures create scar tissue thus they would damage the macula even more.
3. With a stage three hole, the chances for improvement are very very slim, and surgery is almost always recommended. Without repair the odds are more likely that there will be further macular damage. Surgery, may not give her "normal" vision, but the goal of surgery is to try and preserve vision, and it may offer a line or two of improvement on reading the eye chart.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dear roger397,
I would specifically ask her retinal specialist these questions.If you do not feel comfortable with the answers, seek a second opinion.
Dr. Feldman
Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California
I would specifically ask her retinal specialist these questions.If you do not feel comfortable with the answers, seek a second opinion.
Dr. Feldman
Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California
You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Forum
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Eye whitening, iris color change, and eyeball "bling." Eye expert Dr. John Hagan warns of the dangers from these unnecessary surgeries.
Eye expert John Hagan, MD, FACS, FAAO discusses factors to consider and discuss with your eye care team before embarking on cataract surgery.
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
Protect against the leading cause of blindness in older adults
Got dry eyes? Eye drops aren't the only option! Ophthalmologist John C. Hagan III, MD explains other possible treatments.
